Elmo puppeteer Kevin Clash has resigned from Sesame Street in the wake of allegations that he had sex with an underaged youth. Last week a man accused Clash of having sex with him when he was a teenage boy, a charge Clash denied. A day later, the man recanted his charge. A lawsuit by a second accuser was filed Tuesday, Nov. 20. This is not the first time Sesame Street has made headlines.

1. Katy Perry’s cleavage
Elmo has been in the news before puppeteer Kevin Clash quit his job Tuesday over allegations he’d had sex with a minor. In 2010, Sesame Street announced it would not air a music video duet by Elmo and Katy Perry. The video, featuring the pair singing Perry’s hit Hot ‘N Cold, was released online; almost at the speed of light, Perry’s low-cut dress became the story.Sesame Street
/ Handout

2. Are Bert and Ernie more than roommates?
Way before bromances came into vogue, Bert and Ernie were subjected to snide and even hostile rumours about their relationship; in the 1990s a North Carolina minister, citing his state’s anti-sodomy laws, even attempted to have them banned from TV. In 1993, the show’s producers set the record straight, stating: Bert and Ernie “do not portray a gay couple, and there are no plans for them to do so in the future.Handout
/ .

3. Cookie Monster: C is for carrots
Cookie Monster, not surprisingly, has always been known for his love of cookies. Also not surprisingly, it was just a matter of time before he’d come under fire for being an unhealthy example for kids. Cookie Monster addressed the criticisms in an 2005 interview with Matt Lauer, firmly telling the Today show host that he eats a balanced diet, and even has fruit on occasion. Sesame Street had a new song written – “A Cookie is a Sometime Food” - to teach kids the importance of a balanced diet.'
/ muppet.wikia.com

4. Roosevelt Franklin, the African-American Muppet
In an attempt to introduce diversity to the show, Sesame Street introduced a black Muppet named Roosevelt Franklin in the 1970s. Instead of the desired effect, Roosevelt angered parents who noted that the character was drawn as a rambunctious kid forever being sent to detention. Negative stereotyping, parents complained - and Roosevelt was written off the show within five years.'
/ muppet.wikia.com

5. Kami, the HIV-positive puppet
In 2002, Sesame Street in South Africa debuted Kami, an HIV-positive puppet whose mother had died of AIDS. Kami’s introduction to the show immediately drew fire from critics who said Sesame Street was promoting homosexuality and that the lesson being taught was age-inappropriate.'
/ pozmagazine.tumblr.com

6. Mahboub, the Arab puppet
In Israel, it was Mahboub the Arab muppet that was making headlines, angering Israelis. Mahboub, who spoke Arabic and Hebrew, was featured in both versions of Sesame Street that aired in Israel in 2006 during the height of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. One version of the show was aimed at Arab children; the other version was for Israeli kids.'
/ muppet.wikia.com

7. Sesame Street for adults only
Cookie Monster, not with a cookie but with a pipe instead! An anti-establishment Grover spouting civil disobedience! When Sesame Street debuted in 1969, some of the show’s muppets reflected the times and were subsequently drawn with these rather mind-boggling characteristics and more. As a result, the first volume of the show’s DVD set now has an “adults only” warning.'
/ muppet.wikia.com

8. YouTube porn
In October 2011, Sesame Street’s YouTube channel was hacked and replaced with porn. The problem was addressed quickly but too late - many subscribers had already seen and been offended by the material.Handout
/ Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment

9. Sesame Street’s ‘liberal bias’
In 2009, Sesame Street featured an episode that appeared to mock Fox News. In the segment, a caller to Oscar the Grouch, host of GNN (the Grouchy News Network), complained that the news wasn’t grouchy enough. “From now on I am watching Pox News. Now there is a trashy news show,” the caller said. When Fox complained, the PBS ombudsman admitted that although the parody was “too good to resist, it should have been resisted.”Handout
/ Handout

10. Mitt Romney vs Big Bird
During the recent U.S. presidential campaign, Mitt Romney’s comment that if elected, he’d cut funding to PBS, became an Internet meme and made a star of Big Bird. "I like PBS. I love Big Bird," Romney said, adding that nonetheless, he would cut funding to the public broadcaster. The comment drew ire and mockery across social media platforms and even prompted the organization of the protest Million Muppet March in Washington DC.'
/ Hollywoodreporter.com

Kevin Clash’s resignation from his job as the voice of Elmo is sending the Twittersphere into a frenzy today, but this sex scandal is not the first time the iconic children’s show has been embroiled in scandal. In fact, over the years, there has scarcely been a Muppet who has remained untouched by controversy.

Comments

We encourage all readers to share their views on our articles and blog posts. We are committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion, so we ask you to avoid personal attacks, and please keep your comments relevant and respectful. If you encounter a comment that is abusive, click the "X" in the upper right corner of the comment box to report spam or abuse. We are using Facebook commenting. Visit our FAQ page for more information.

Video

Entertainment Videos

Best of Postmedia

Millennials, amirite? They’re nothing but Instagram-happy, emoji-LOL-ing, mannequin-challenging navelgazers. Or so the theory goes. How can they put their pants on one leg at a time, like everyone else, when they’re sausaged into skinny jeans? Yet when it comes to […]

“And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were, the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, ‘Come and see.’ And I saw, and behold a white elephant, and he that sat upon him had a crown, which he wore atop his fiery hair, and […]

An Ottawa judge has thrown out a romance fraud case that has taken more than four years to go to trial, ruling that the excessive delay has robbed the accused man of his right to a fair trial. Ontario Superior Court Justice Kevin Phillips on Friday stayed the case against Kevin Bishop of Ottawa, who had […]

Almost Done!

Postmedia wants to improve your reading experience as well as share the best deals and promotions from our advertisers with you. The information below will be used to optimize the content and make ads across the network more relevant to you. You can always change the information you share with us by editing your profile.

By clicking "Create Account", I hearby grant permission to Postmedia to use my account information to create my account.

I also accept and agree to be bound by Postmedia's Terms and Conditions with respect to my use of the Site and I have read and understand Postmedia's Privacy Statement. I consent to the collection, use, maintenance, and disclosure of my information in accordance with the Postmedia's Privacy Policy.

Postmedia wants to improve your reading experience as well as share the best deals and promotions from our advertisers with you. The information below will be used to optimize the content and make ads across the network more relevant to you. You can always change the information you share with us by editing your profile.

By clicking "Create Account", I hearby grant permission to Postmedia to use my account information to create my account.

I also accept and agree to be bound by Postmedia's Terms and Conditions with respect to my use of the Site and I have read and understand Postmedia's Privacy Statement. I consent to the collection, use, maintenance, and disclosure of my information in accordance with the Postmedia's Privacy Policy.